DE10238895A1 - Coupling piece for connecting two stacked containers, arrangement of stacked containers and method for connecting stacked containers with such coupling pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

A coupling piece for joining two containers (35, 36) that are stacked one atop the other, particularly onboard ships is provided. Such a coupling is provided at corner fittings (43, 44) and each include a stop plate (21) and a coupling projection (22, 23) on each side of the stop plate (21). A first coupling projection (22) can be placed on the corner fitting of one container (36) and the other coupling projection (23) is provided with a locking catch (28, 46, 54) for locking inside a corner fitting of the other container (35). The drawback that front-side openings in upper corner fittings (43, 44) of a container (36) are obstructed by a locking catch of the coupling piece, hindering the use of lashing means is overcome with the coupling piece locking catch (28, 46, 54), when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the containers (35, 36), being arranged laterally on the other coupling projection (23).

Description

The invention relates to a coupling piece for connecting two on top of each other stacked containers, especially on board ships, with their corner fittings a stop plate and a coupling projection on both sides the stop plate, of which the first coupling projection on the Corner fitting of one container can be attached and the other coupling projection a locking lug for locking in a corner fitting of the other container is formed. The invention further relates to an arrangement on top of each other stacked container and method of connecting one above the other stacked container with such dome pieces.

Such a coupling piece is for example from the DE 298 11 460 U1 known. This coupling piece is a so-called midlock, which is used for lashing containers as deck cargo on board ships, namely for connecting two stacked containers. The midlock is always used when two 20-foot containers are placed on a parking space for a 40-foot container, namely at the corner corner fittings on the facing end faces of the 20-foot containers in a row. There is only a very narrow gap of about 76 mm between the 20-foot containers standing one behind the other, so that the corner fittings arranged on these sides and therefore also the midlock are difficult to access for the stowage personnel. The corner fittings are freely accessible on the other free end faces. So-called twistlocks are generally used here, which are opened manually by the storage personnel when the container is unloaded (deleted). The container is then raised, the midlocks sliding out of the corner fittings of the lower container by skewing the container.

When loading the container, the midlocks are first hooked into the lower corner fitting of the upper container with floating containers on land. For older variants, hook-like lugs on a front side (the side pointing in the longitudinal direction of the container toward the front side of the same) of the upper coupling projection serve this purpose. More modern variants, such as the one in DE 298 11 460 U1 Midlock shown, have lateral projections on the upper coupling projection, which extend approximately parallel to the stop plate. These projections engage in the lower corner fitting of the upper container. The opposite, lower coupling projection has a locking lug on a front. When the upper container is set down on the lower container already on board the ship, either the entire midlock slides forward or backward relative to the upper container or the entire upper container on a lower inclined surface of the locking lug and snaps into place when the container is lowered further upper corner fitting of the lower container.

This midlock has the following disadvantage. Most of the time, on board fonts, the rear container corner fitting, in which a midlock is usually used, is difficult to access, as explained above. However, there are also container ships in which the containers are accessible at least at some of the loading bays, or because not all loading bays are occupied, for attaching additional lashing equipment, for example lashing rods. Here, however, with the known midlocks, no lashing means can still be attached in the upper corner fitting of the lower container, since the front opening is occupied due to the locking lug engaging therein. For this reason, in the DE 100 04 359 A1 proposed a special hooking fitting of a lashing rod, which encompasses the locking nose of conventional midlocks. This hook fitting has never been used in practice.

The invention is based on this the problem is based on a coupling piece and an arrangement on top of each other stacked container and a method of connecting one above the other to create stacked containers, in which the front opening of the upper corner fitting of a container for lashing equipment remains free.

To solve this problem it is coupling piece according to the invention thereby characterized that the Longitudinal locking lug the container seen laterally on the other coupling projection is arranged. The arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that that the container at least on the corner fittings one end of the container, each with one of the coupling pieces according to the invention get connected. According to the method according to the invention the upper container when coupling and / or uncoupling with the lower one Container swiveled around its vertical axis or, alternatively, laterally added.

Due to the lateral arrangement of the The locking nose remains the front hole of the corner fitting of the lower container free for Lashing equipment accessible. The locking tab is a common way anyway not used for lashing containers on board ships side opening assigned to the corner fitting, where it therefore does not bother you.

The measure according to the invention offers yet another advantage. As explained above, 20-foot containers are stowed together on loading spaces for 40-foot containers by two different fittings when stacked on top of each other bound, namely on the one hand with two midlocks and on the other hand with two twistlocks. Different fittings must therefore be kept on board the ship. In addition, a twistlock that is accidentally used instead of a midlock is often difficult to release. There have therefore been efforts in the past to create a universal fitting, a so-called universal lock (also called Unilock), which can be used universally in all positions. An example of such a universal lock is the subject of DE 101 05 785 A1 , The previously proposed universal locks have not really gained a foothold in practice. Furthermore, they have the disadvantage that for unloading (deleting) the containers, the stowage personnel at the accessible container corner fittings ("twistlock position") must still manually open the universal lock so that it is unlocked with the upper corner fitting of the lower container.

In order to avoid this and to create a coupling piece that can be unlocked without the intervention of traffic personnel, the DE 43 07 781 A1 and WO 01/76980 A1 propose so-called fully automatic machines in which movable locking elements are provided. These locking elements move by ship movements, in particular rolling movements, during the journey and thereby lock the coupling piece with the upper corner fitting of the lower container. In WO 01/76980 A1, a ball movable in a cage is provided as the blocking element. In the DE 43 07 781 A1 It is proposed to use a swiveling block that swivels from one side to the other depending on the position of the ship and thus hooks under the slot of the upper corner fitting of the lower container. The locking elements are designed so that when the boat is calm, i.e. in the harbor, they automatically reach a rest position in which they unlock the coupling piece with the upper corner fitting of the lower container, so that the upper container can be deleted.

A disadvantage of these fully automatic machines is that Movable locking elements very sensitive, especially to dirt are. These fully automatic machines are therefore very good even with good maintenance susceptible to interference.

A coupling piece equipped with the features according to the invention can be also use as a fully automatic machine. One coupling piece is used in all of four lower corner fittings of the upper container. By using four equally trained dome pieces it follows automatically that at the "front" corner fittings on the one hand and the "rear" corner fittings on the other hand, the locking lugs each in different Show directions. When setting down the prepared container the container twists on the lower container, in particular due to the design of the dome pieces, slightly around its vertical axis and the lower coupling protrusions of the dome pieces snap into the corner fittings of the lower one with the locking lugs Containers. This makes it safe for ship movements Interlocking the one above the other given stacked containers. By rolling movements of the ship the containers tilt transversely in sea operation. One long side the container is thus under pressure, while the opposite one long side is loaded on train. The coupling pieces on the pressure side of the container prevent the entire container from moving, so that the locking lug not except on the train side Engage with the upper corner fitting of the lower container can and so the tensile forces between the upper and lower container on the train side. Also the containers stacked in the bow area of a ship, where the case may occur due to the ship's tamping, that at all four dome pieces Tensile loads occur are held securely. Due to the inertia of the each upper container, this will not be compared to itself turn each lower container so that a safe one even under these circumstances Lock is given.

The length of the other (lower) coupling protrusion is slightly smaller according to a constructive embodiment of the invention than the length an associated one Elongated hole of the associated corner fitting of the other (lower) container. The maximum should be accordingly Width of the locking lug may be slightly smaller than the width of the elongated hole. The lower coupling projection then just fits through the elongated hole, what for the intended coupling and uncoupling of the one above the other stacked container completely is sufficient; an unwanted decoupling due to ship movements but counteracts. This is further supported if the other's forehead edges (lower) coupling projection have a contour that to the The contour of the assigned elongated hole corresponds in this area. This has the coupling piece longitudinal just a very small game, so the dome piece too blocked in the transverse direction. So there is a further improvement Securing against displacement of the coupling piece in the transverse direction, see above that the secure connection of the stacked Container is further improved by means of the locking lug.

To facilitate the introduction of the lower coupling protrusion in the corresponding slot on the container corner fitting is according to a further constructive embodiment of the invention an insertion cone is arranged below the locking lug. This lead-in chamfer rejuvenated himself down so that he for the correct positioning of the lower coupling projection, and thus of the entire dome, ensures coupling.

At the transition from the stop plate to the lower coupling projection, the ver locking nose facing away from the long side of the lower coupling projection an insertion bevel. After the coupling piece has been correctly positioned by the insertion cone for insertion into the elongated hole, the insertion slope is now used by further lowering the upper container. Because of the lead-in chamfer, the coupling piece is pressed by lowering the upper container further in the direction in which the locking lug points and thereby coupling the upper container to the lower container (locking position). Furthermore, the coupling piece has little play in the transverse direction of the container due to the lead-in chamfer, so that the locking lug always securely undercuts the slot in the upper corner fitting of the lower container. This ensures a further improvement in a secure connection of the containers stacked one above the other.

Can be used to facilitate uncoupling a sloping shoulder is arranged on the top of the locking lug his. This variant is particularly suitable for fully automatic machines. alternative the top can also have a horizontal top. To make it easier to uncouple the locking lug with an oblique sidewall facing inwards. This variant is especially for Midlocks suitable and can also or alternatively to oblique sloping shoulder inserted at the top of the locking tab become.

The invention is described below of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It demonstrate:

1 a coupling piece with the features of the invention in side view, partially cut;

2 the coupling piece according to 1 in front view;

3 a schematic representation of two containers when loading the same, just before locking;

4 a schematic representation of the container when unloading shortly after unlocking;

5 a detail of the container when loading or unloading the container;

6 a detail of the stacked containers in the locked state;

7 a schematic representation of two containers in plan view during locking and unlocking;

8th a schematic plan view of the lower container in the locked state;

9 another embodiment of a coupling piece with the features of the invention in side view, partially cut;

10 the coupling piece according to 9 in front view;

11 two containers stacked one on top of the other with a coupling piece according to 9 when unloading just before unlocking,

12 a detail of the container according to 11 shortly before unlocking in side view;

13 the detail of the container according to 12 in front view;

14 the detail of the container according to 12 in top view.

The in the 1 to 8th The illustrated embodiments of a coupling piece according to the invention are particularly suitable as a so-called fully automatic machine 20 , also known as Uni-Lock. The fully automatic machine 20 has a middle stop plate 21 and coupling protrusions extending upward and downward therefrom 22 and 23 on. On the upper coupling projection 22 are side projections 24 . 25 arranged, which engage behind a lower slot of a container corner fitting, so that they are positively locked within this corner fitting. For connection Unlock the upper coupling protrusion 22 a locking piece is used in this container corner fitting 26 which by means of a hand lever 27 to the side in the plane of the stop plate 21 can be pivoted. In this respect, the present fully automatic machine speaks 20 another conventional midlock, such as in DE 298 11 460 U1 is shown and is used like this midlock in the lower corner fitting of the upper container by the traffic personnel.

Since the upper elongated holes on the upper corner fittings as well as the lower elongated holes of the lower corner fittings on standard containers are always directed in the longitudinal direction of the container, the hand levers are 27 always facing the front of the container (the front with doors or the closed rear). The side of the hand lever 27 is therefore referred to in the context of this description and the claims as the front side V, the opposite side as the rear side R and the adjoining sides pointing from the front side V to the rear side R as the long sides L.

The lower coupling protrusion 23 is trained in a special way. This coupling projection 23 has a projecting locking lug 28 on. As in

1 and 2 you can see the locking lug 28 one of the two long sides L, namely that as shown in 2 assigned to the right long side L. The locking lug 28 is arranged laterally so that an opening of the container corner fitting assigned to the end faces of the container remains free for hooking in lashing means.

Below the locking tab 28 is the coupling protrusion 23 with a downward insertion cone 29 Mistake. At the transition from the lower coupling projection 23 to the stop plate 21 is on that of the locking lug 28 opposite long side L of the lower coupling projection 23 an insertion slope 30 intended. The chamfer 30 causes when inserting the fully automatic machine 20 in the upper corner fitting of the lower container, i.e. when placing the upper container on the lower container, the respective fully automatic machine 20 in the representation according to 2 is shifted to the right.

At the entry slope 30 opposite side of the lower coupling projection 23 is a bevel 31 at the transition from the coupling projection 23 to the stop bar 21 intended. This bevel 31 is primarily intended for strength reasons. As in 2 but recognizable, the bevel corresponds 31 as well as the upper part of the lead-in chamfer 30 exactly with a chamfer 32 at the slot 33 of the corner fitting.

The length 1 of the lower coupling protrusion 23 is only insignificantly smaller than the length of the elongated hole 33 , The width b of the locking lug 28 at its widest point it is also only slightly smaller than the width of the elongated hole 33 , The projecting depth t of the locking lug 28 is therefore only slightly smaller than the distance a from the locking lug 28 opposite side surface of the coupling projection 28 from the associated inner wall of the elongated hole 33 ( 2 ).

To make unlocking easier, the locking lug is 28 with a sloping shoulder 34 educated. When lifting the upper container and thus the fully automatic machine 20 bumps the shoulder 34 against the bottom of the container corner fitting, so that the fully automatic 20 in the representation according to 2 is pushed to the left and so disengaged from the slot 33 comes.

In the 3 to 8th is the loading and unloading of containers using the fully automatic machine 20 shown. 3 shows a container already placed on board fonts, for example 35 on which another container 36 should be discontinued. The other container 36 is in the position just before locking onto the lower container 35 shown. As in 5 recognizable, the fully automatic machine sets 20 with the insertion cone 29 on the top of the elongated hole 33 on and then by moving the entire upper container 36 by a longitudinal rotation of the container 36 around its vertical axis (see footnote 7, arrow 37 ) locked. The movement sequence of the fully automatic machine is through the arrow combination 38 in 4 and 5 clarified. The front fully automatic machines 20 slide when locking due to the insertion cone 29 first to the left (arrow 38.1 ) while the rear fully automatic machines 20 slide to the right. By further lowering the upper container 36 the fully automatic machine lowers 20 first vertically (arrow 38.2 ). By lowering the upper container even further 36 the front fully automatic machines slide 20 finally to the right (arrow 38.3 ) while the rear fully automatic machines 20 similarly slide to the left into their respective locking position. 6 shows the containers 35 . 36 finally in the fully locked position.

4 shows analog to 3 the upper container 36 shortly after unlocking while unloading (unloading) the container 36 , The container is in turn light about its vertical axis compared to the lower container 35 twisted. The front fully automatic machines 20 slide up left according to arrow 40 in the representation according to 4 and 5 from the oblong holes 33 out while the rear fully automatic machines 20 according to arrow 41 in 4 to the top right out of the elongated holes 33 slide out. The container 36 thus turns clockwise according to the arrow 42 in 7 during unloading. These directions according to the arrows 38 . 40 . 41 . 42 arise because the the front corner fittings 44 the container 35 . 36 assigned fully automatic machines 20 on the one hand and the locking lugs 28 the the rear corner fitting 43 assigned fully automatic machines 20 on the other hand with their locking lugs 28 point in opposite directions.

In 8th it can be clearly seen that a front and rear front edge 39 of the fully automatic machine, more precisely the lower coupling projection 23 , at least in the area of the elongated hole 33 of the upper corner fitting 43 . 44 of the lower container 35 has a contour that the contour of the elongated hole 33 equivalent. Specifically, an arc-shaped contour is provided.

So far inadvertently the the rear corner fittings 43 or the front corner fittings 44 assigned fully automatic machines 20 once used upside down, this is no longer tragic. The container 36 is then lowered or lifted laterally offset overall during locking and unlocking. However, such a situation should be avoided by careful work of the traffic jam personnel. As far as only one of the fully automatic machines is used upside down, so that the front corner fittings 44 or the rear corner fittings 43 assigned locking lugs 28 The container can be pointed towards or pointing away from each other 36 don't lock at all. This is noticed by the traffic jam personnel so that the container can be raised again and the error can be corrected. In any case, a situation in which the fully automatic machine locks and then only very difficult to unlock and so that the container cannot be unloaded cannot occur.

In the 9 to 14 is a particularly as a midlock 45 suitable coupling piece shown. The midlock 45 corresponds in its essential components to the fully automatic machine 20 according to 1 to 8th , so that comparable components in the 9 to 14 are designated by the same reference numerals as in the 1 to 8th , As in 10 recognizable, has a locking lug also arranged on the side 46 of the midlock 45 no sloping shoulder, but has an approximately horizontal top 47 , An outer side wall 48 the locking lug 46 is on the hand lever 27 abge turned side diagonally inwards, like this one in particular 14 is easy to see.

In the 11 to 14 is unlocking the upper container 36 from the lower container. 35 shown. First, the front fittings, which are freely accessible to the stowage personnel, are attached 44 a semi-automatic twistlock used there 49 manually unlocked from jamming. Then the container is loaded with a container loading crane 36 raised (arrow 50 ). The front corner fittings 44 the container 35 . 36 stand out from each other and the container 36 tilted. This also tilts the midlock 45 as especially in 12 is easy to see. Because of the sloping side wall 48 now becomes the midlock 45 in the representation according to 13 pushed to the left (arrow 51 ), causing the locking lug 46 from the slot 33 comes free.

Locking the container 36 or the midlock 45 when loading the container 36 , so when placing it on the lower container 35 takes place analogously to that with the 1 to 8th explained fully automatic machine 20 ,

20

fully automatic

21

stop plate

22

coupling projection

23

coupling projection

24

head Start

25

head Start

26

locking piece

27

hand lever

28

locking tab

29

lead-in chamfer

30

chamfer

31

chamfer

32

chamfer

33

Long hole

34

shoulder

35

Container

36

Container

37

arrow

38

arrow combination

39

front edge

40

arrow

41

arrow

42

arrow

43

Patch fitting

44

Patch fitting

45

midlock

46

locking tab

47

top

48

Side wall

49

twistlock

50

arrow

51

arrow

a

distance

b

width

1

length

t

depth

V

front

R

back

L

long side

Claims (16)

Coupling piece for connecting two stacked containers ( 35 . 36 ), especially on board ships, on their corner fittings, with a stop plate ( 21 ) and one coupling projection ( 22 . 23 ) on both sides of the stop plate ( 21 ), of which the first coupling projection ( 22 ) on the corner fitting of one container ( 36 ) attachable and the other coupling projection ( 23 ) with a locking lug ( 28 . 46 ) to lock in a corner fitting of the other container ( 35 Is formed), characterized in that the locking lug ( 28 . 46 ) in the longitudinal direction of the container ( 35 . 36 ) seen on the side of the other coupling projection ( 23 ) is arranged. Coupling piece according to claim 1, characterized ge indicates that the length ( 1 ) of the other coupling projection ( 23 ) slightly smaller than the length of an elongated hole ( 33 ) of the corresponding corner fitting of the other container ( 35 ) is. Coupling piece according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the maximum width (b) of the locking lug ( 28 . 46 ) slightly smaller than the width of the elongated hole ( 33 ) of the corresponding corner fitting of the other container ( 35 ) is. Coupling piece according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that end edges ( 39 ) of the other coupling projection ( 23 ) one for the contour of the elongated hole ( 33 ) have a corresponding, in particular circular, contour. Coupling piece according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the coupling projection ( 23 ) below the locking lug ( 28 . 46 ) an insertion cone ( 29 ) having. Coupling piece according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at the transition from the coupling projection ( 23 ) to the stop plate ( 21 ) on the locking lug ( 28 . 46 ) facing away from the long side (L) 30 ) is arranged. Coupling piece according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the locking lug ( 28 ) a sloping shoulder on the top ( 34 ) having. Coupling piece according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the locking lug ( 46 ) with an approximately horizontal top ( 47 ) is trained. Coupling piece according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the locking lug ( 46 ) with an inclined side wall ( 48 ) is trained. Arrangement of stacked containers ( 35 . 36 ), especially on board ships that are equipped with coupling pieces ( 20 . 45 ) are connected to each other at their corner fittings, characterized in that the containers ( 35 . 36 ) at least on the corner fittings of one end of the container ( 35 . 36 ) with one coupling piece each ( 20 . 45 ) are connected to each other according to claims 1 to 9. Arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that the containers ( 35 . 36 ) on all of their corner fittings with a coupling piece ( 20 ) are interconnected according to one of claims 1 to 7. Arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the locking lugs ( 28 ) of the coupling pieces ( 20 ) that fit the (front) corner fittings ( 43 ) on one of the end walls of the container ( 35 . 36 ) are assigned in the longitudinal direction of the container ( 35 . 36 ) seen in a lateral direction and the locking lugs ( 28 ) of the coupling pieces ( 20 ) that fit the (rear) corner fittings ( 44 ) on the other end walls of the containers ( 35 . 36 ) are assigned, point in the opposite direction. Method for connecting stacked containers ( 35 . 36 ), especially on board ships, with coupling pieces ( 20 . 45 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the upper container ( 36 ) is rotated about its vertical axis when coupling and / or uncoupling with the lower container. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that the upper container ( 36 ) when coupling and / or uncoupling through the design of the coupling pieces ( 20 . 45 ) is rotated around its vertical axis. Method for connecting stacked containers ( 35 . 36 ), especially on board fonts, with coupling pieces ( 20 . 45 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the upper container ( 36 ) is moved laterally when coupling and / or uncoupling with the lower container. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that the upper container ( 36 ) when coupling and / or uncoupling through the design of the coupling pieces ( 28 . 45 ) is laterally offset.